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locally Owned Saratoga County 2026

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locally Owned

Businesses S a r at o g a C o u n t y PUBLISHER Chad Beatty

MARKETING DIRECTOR Chris Bushee ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Jim Daley ADVERTISING SALES Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Thomas Beaury Chris Bushee DISTRIBUTION Kim Beatty DESIGN Kacie Cotter-Harrigan Creative Director, Graphic Designer

Jocelyn Lucey

13 reasons why choosing to patronize locally owned, independent businesses benefits our community.

Create More Good Jobs

Get Better Service

More Products, Affordable Prices

Shopping Local Saves Money

Newspaper Designer

Madison Teator

Advertising Graphic Designer, Web & Social Media

WRITER Megin Potter PHOTOGRAPHERS Super Source Media Studios

Cover photo by Super Source Media Studios

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Local shops sell a wide range of great products at affordable prices. Many people fall out of the habit of shopping locally and are then surprised by the range of products and gifts available.

Marketers have done a good job of convincing us that local business equals expensive. If you add travel fees to transfer items and your time, the overall cost is often much higher.

Buy Local & Support Yourself

Local news never looked this good!

Unique Community

Environmental Impact

Invest In Community

Taxes to Good Use

Encourage Local Prosperity

Buy What You Want

Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers. Local shops and businesses value their customers.

PUBLISHER OF:

2254 Route 50 South Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Phone: 518-581-2480

Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.

Shopping Local Retains Our Communities

Locally Owned & Operated Simply Saratoga Saratoga Bride Welcome Home Equicurean Saratoga Christmas Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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People don’t like losing shops and services in their communities but don’t equate this to how they spend their money. Most people can get to their local shops easily and this is especially important for the elderly and young generations and those without transportation.

Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally-owned business, rather than nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms – continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.

Support Community Groups Non-profit organizations receive an average of 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.

Where we shop, where we eat and have fun – all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just any place,” says Richard Moe, president of the National Historic Preservation Trust.

Locally-owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

Local businesses in town centers required comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

A marketplace of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based on the needs of local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

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On a

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Food o O Odyssey Discovering the world through its culinary delights, Chef Armand VanderStigchel, explores local ingredients to bring European cuisine to Broadway. WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER • FOR SARATOGA TODAY PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA STUDIOS

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ive years ago, the pandemic was shuttering restaurants when Chef Armand VanderStigchel and his wife, Tatiana, opened Brasserie Benelux, at 390 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

Twenty-five years earlier, Chef Armand, now the author of three cookbooks, had just moved to the area after being introduced to it during a book tour. Back then, he thought about how he’d love to open a restaurant in Saratoga one day. Now, the Executive Chief Proprietor of Brasserie Benelux (which means “Belgium Brewery”) he’s adding to the rich diversity of Saratoga’s culinary community with a menu of uniquely inspired specialty dishes.

“The reason why we’ve survived is not because we’re on Broadway (being behind Broadway is just as good). We’ve survived because Tatiana and I do everything ourselves. When she’s making the strudel, I’m making the dressing. When I’m in the kitchen, she’s out front. We’re very hands on. If I can’t be here for some reason, we close the restaurant. It’ll never open without us here to watch every detail,” he said.

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STORIED INGREDIENTS At Brasserie Benelux, authenticity is all-important as many people in this area come from families of Dutch, German, and Irish decent. Eastern European immigrants from Ukraine and other countries know how this food is supposed to taste, and if you’re not spot on, you can’t finagle it, said Chef Armand. In addition to serving up traditional dishes like Jager schnitzel, Swedish meatballs, and homemade buttered Spätzle noodles, Chef Armand goes out of his way to find select ingredients that make all the difference. The one thing you’ve just got to have with a great Belgium mussel pot or unbelievable sausages is good fries, says Chef Armand, which is why he only uses golden Bintje potatoes instead of Idaho or Russet for his pommes frites. Made to thrive in Europe’s clay sediments, these potatoes have a low moisture content and do not need added chemicals to make them crisp. Instead, Chef Armand cooks them twice so that they’re crunchy on the outside, creamy and fluffy on the inside. A LEGENDARY BEER MENU By pairing artisanal dishes with a large selection of European and craft beers, Brasserie Benelux becomes a unique dining destination. They serve their Belgium beer in a Kwak, an hourglass-shaped glass encased within a wooden stand. Known as a “coachman’s glass” these vessels were mounted on stagecoaches for drivers in the 1790’s. Other fall favorites include Benediktiner Oktoberfest, Erdinger Oktoberfest, Toasted Pumpkin Cider, and Bluepoint Pumpkin Ale, among other libations, including ciders and spirits. By carrying beers crafted by local breweries including Artisanal Brew Works, Chef Armand helps elevate the rich tapestry of our area’s abundant agricultural resources. “That’s what so exciting about this area, there are so many places to go,” said Chef Armand. Embarking on a journey to explore and write about local cuisine, two years ago Chef Armand began writing “518 Culinary Destinations” a regular feature in 518 Profiles magazine that serves as a roadmap of his food experiences for others to follow.

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“A lot of locals are looking for a good dining deal. This encourages them to come downtown when they can find a place to park and eat in an environment where they won’t feel rushed,” said Chef Armand.

UNMATCHED EXCELLENCE A pioneer in the local product-sourcing movement, Chef Armand, the son of a Dutch immigrant to America, spent years living in the Netherlands and traveling through Europe, learning about regional Dutch and Belgium food culture. Developing his culinary finesse as the featured chef on 100+ network television shows, Chef Armand was a sauce spokesman for Franks Red Hot Sauce, and worked with brands including French’s Mustard, Mrs. Butterworths, Log Cabin Maple Syrup, Jarlsberg, and New Amsterdam Cheese.

In 2014, he fed thousands at farm-to-table buffets at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located in Bethel, NY on the grounds of the infamous 1969 Woodstock concert. Then, in the mid-2000’s, he was a research and development chef for Stew Leonard’s, a regional grocery store chain. While in NYC, he discovered his current supplier, Baldor Specialty Foods, a family-owned and operated purveyor for some of the nation’s most acclaimed chefs.

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LOCAL ALLURE A former banquet chef at the Hilton Hotel, Chef Armand customizes his catering menu to your party when you reserve the Brasserie Benelux’s sophisticated Saratoga Room for your next gathering. “I have a kitchen back there with so many different ingredients available, I can change our gold, platinum, and executive packages to suite you,” he said. Brasserie Benelux also rewards locals with a spectacular 3-course dinner deal. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, diners can enjoy soup or salad, an entrée, and a dessert for $22.95. Every week the menu of options available changes. “A lot of locals are looking for a good dining deal. This encourages them to come downtown when they can find a place to park and eat in an environment where they won’t feel rushed,” said Chef Armand. For updates, follow @brasseriebeneluxny on Facebook. For the Brasserie Benelux menu and more information, visit https://beneluxny.com

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Jumper Bean Building Bigger J umper Bean Daycare and Preschool is expanding and “we couldn’t be more excited for this next big step forward for our program!” stated owner Ashley Tyler.

Their Geyser Road location is expanding by putting on a 2,500 square-foot addition, giving them four more classrooms: two for infants and two for toddlers. The addition will allow them to enroll an additional 36 children daily and employ 10 more qualified caregivers from the community. The project has been an ongoing endeavor with years of preparation and design work in the making. “Every detail of this building has been genuinely thought out in this design.” added Tyler. “From the extra windows for natural lighting to the layout of the rooms, this building will be high functioning, bright and properly designed for effective supervision.” The addition will also include a high-end, state of the art playground for infants and toddlers, providing the opportunity for more outdoor play. “As a woman owned business, this project is dear to my heart.” Tyler added. “From starting Jumper Bean 13 years ago out of my home, to this expansion project, it has been such a rewarding undertaking, and I cannot wait to see the children and families using the space and utilizing it to it’s upmost potential.” If you are interested in joining their program, applying to their waiting list, or exploring employment opportunities, you can find out more about Jumper Bean at jumperbean.com

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Fashion Floors Finds a

New

Home

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER • FOR SARATOGA TODAY | PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA STUDIOS

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hen Paul Mound was thrown a curveball, he moved home base. “I had no intention of moving,” said Paul Mound, founder of Fashion Floors of Saratoga. In business for 38 years, and at the same location, 644 Maple Ave. for 32, he had no desire to sell last fall when Stewart’s Shops approached him with a proposal to purchase his property and that of two of his neighbors. All three parties closed on the deal in February, but Paul was the last to leave. On July 29th, during a 100-year rainstorm, Fashion Floors of Saratoga moved down the street to 446 Maple Ave. on Route 9 in Saratoga Springs, and on August 3rd the new showroom opened to the public. “Just because I sold the building, I was not closing up shop. I have a lot of customers and have built up 38 years of good will, so I was not looking to stop doing business,” said Mound.

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“There are a lot of nuances to each product, and as a professional, my job is to recommend the right product,” he said.

Keeping His Eye on the Ball

When the Bases are Loaded

Fashion Floors’ strong customer base was built on trust. “I’m not looking to be all things to all people. I deliver quality work for fair prices, sales support, and technical expertise,” explains Mound.

The flooring business, driven by design and color trends, is currently experiencing a resurgence in earth tones as browns and a more traditional color palette replace the greys that were previously all the rage.

Their gold-level service has a solid foundation in Mound’s in-depth understanding of the construction, strength, and limitations of products. Early in his career, Mound developed carpet for the airline and auto industries, used by companies including Mercedes, BMW, and Subaru. “There are a lot of nuances to each product, and as a professional, my job is to recommend the right product,” he said. This curated selection is chosen from suppliers who have proven they can provide ample product, of the best quality, on time.

When Fashion Floors opened in 1994, 85% of their customers wanted carpet, remembers Mound, while 10% were interested in linoleum, and 5% invested in hardwood. Today, 75% want waterproof floating laminate flooring, 15% are looking for hardwood, and only 10% want carpet, he said. Flooring is a cyclical business, however, Mound stresses. Noting how Berber carpeting is making a comeback because unlike the 1990s version, today’s Berber features more depth and attractive patterning.

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Finding That Sweet Spot The number of people walking into Fashion Floors’ new showroom who first became his customers 10, 20, or even 30 years ago is mind-boggling, he said. Children he once coached now come into as customers with their own children. Paul and his wife Jacqueline, (who has also been heavily invested in the business since 1988) will have been married for 50 years next year. To give their three children an opportunity to play advanced sports in traveling leagues, in 1995, he launched the Saratoga Thunder Softball Program. Since 2001, when he founded Coach Mound founded the Saratoga Stampede, he has been the team’s general manager. Mound has also been the director of the Saratoga Summer Baseball Camps since 2006, coached at Saratoga Central Catholic School and Lake George High School, and is currently in his third year as the Head Varsity Baseball Coach at SUNY Adirondack. There is a direct parallel between the flooring business and baseball, said Mound. “There’s the same drive, desire to do the right thing, and to be a great teammate,” he said.

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Hitting a Home Run Mound made the move to Fashion Floors’ new location and has been selling luxury vinyl, tile, plank, hardwood flooring, carpeting, and area rugs solo since June, when their employee of 31 years retired. As a result, Fashion Floors is now open 11am – 5pm, Monday – Friday, giving Mound time to spend his mornings providing estimates. The extra work paid off, and Fashion Floors set a sales record this summer. “What you have in this world is your reputation, your credit score, and your family (and I treat my business like my child), said Mound.” It’s the multiple crews that Fashion Floors works with for installation, carpet repairs, and hardwood refinishing that make this business all that it’s been, added Mound. “I can sell the greatest product, but installers are critical to our success. They have been with me for a long time and are on the front line, doing the work. They are more important than I am.” For more information, follow @FashionFloorsofSaratoga on Facebook and visit http://fashionfloorssaratoga.com

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Going Where the Getting is

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GOOD

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER • FOR SARATOGA TODAY | PHOTOS BY SUPER SOURCE MEDIA STUDIOS

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here is now a tree standing in the middle of Saratoga Outdoors, located in the historic Collamer Building on the north end of Broadway in Saratoga Springs. What owner John Nemjo is happiest about after this year’s renovations however, is how the new flooring ties together the large retail spaces. Murals on the dressing room doors, novel decorations, and new signage all work together to make shopping here for your outdoor adventure needs a more attractive experience than ever before (even for Nemjo, a lifetime avid outdoorsman, who agreed he’d rather be paddling the Grand Canyon, where he went for two weeks this fall, than shopping).

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WHEN A MOUNTAINMAN REBRANDS In 2023, thirty years after its founding, Mountainman Outdoor Supply Company rebranded, changing their name to Saratoga Outdoors. During the last two years, Saratoga Outdoors has experienced phenomenal growth, Nemjo said. “Phenomenal is probably an understatement,” he continued. “Some of these numbers are bordering on insanity.” They’ve seen 18 months in a row of record sales. In one month alone, reports indicated 45% growth over last year. Comparatively, the store’s sales figures increased by an average of 20% across the board. To find out why, Saratoga Outdoors looked at all aspects of their business and discovered a wide variety of reasons including marketing, merchandising, and purchasing the right products to offer their customers. They also found that in addition to their improvements their personable and well-trained staff, being dog-friendly, year-round in store incentives, the weather, regular prints ads (especially in Saratoga TODAY), and a new online store (which has grown 500% in the last two years) have greatly added to their success.

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THERE’S REASON TO DANCE Playing upbeat 70s and 80s music that gets people coming into Saratoga Outdoors singing and dancing is also effective. Music not only gets people through the door; it encourages them to stay longer. Events throughout the summer at SPAC also bring an enormous amount of foot traffic to the store, especially the weekend of the Dave Matthews concert, which is typically the busiest of the summer at both Saratoga Outdoors and next door at Life is Good Saratoga. “Why go to the mall on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday when you can come here and have an experience?” says Nemjo. Nemjo invests in six to eight weeks of training clinics annually, and meetings with new and top brands every spring and fall for his staff. He also offers exclusive events to the public, like he did this July, when he welcomed Life is Good’s cofounder John Jacobs to Saratoga Springs.

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LIFE IS GOOD FINDS A WAY “I think we want positive things in life, in general, and more so today,” said Nemjo, about the Life is Good brands’ enduring appeal. Nemjo launched his first Life is Good Store in Old Forge, NY twenty years ago and is now a brand partner. “It’s a message of hope when things are rough,” he said. “It feels good to feel good about yourself and being outside.” This year, a widow contacted Nemjo, telling him how her husband loved the brand and had collected dozens of their shirts over the years. She wanted to honor him by ordering 50 of his favorite design, a vintage tee that was no longer being sold, for people to wear at his memorial service. When the store manager contacted Life is Good with the dilemma, they scoured their archives, printed a special run of the design, and sent the t-shirts (which Nemjo gave to her free of charge).

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“Our mission is to make people happy and to feel good so they keep coming back,” he said. “Once they walk in the first time, they’re hooked.” Saratoga Outdoors also hosts six community nights per season. During these special events, a selected nonprofit organization receives 30% of the sales collected between 5pm-8pm. Past recipients have included Wilton Wildlife Preserve, Saratoga Spa State Park, Bikeatoga, and the Saratoga Trails Alliance, among others. This, among their many other efforts, help explain why Saratoga Outdoors has been recognized by the readers of Saratoga TODAY as the best Outdoor and Shoe Store, and was voted runner up in their annual Men’s and Women’s Clothing category this year. For more information, follow @SaratogaOutdoors.NY and @ lifeisgoodsaratoga on Facebook, visit them at 490 and 486 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, and online at www.saratogaoutdoors. com and www.lifeisgoodsaratoga.com

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BLACKTOP Wizards

BDB Paving & General Contracting, Inc.

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER • FOR SARATOGA TODAY | PHOTOS PROVIDED

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riving on a smooth surface with fresh edging makes the entire property look well-cared-for from the moment you pull up. This kind of curb appeal casts an undeniable spell on visitors, which is why 10 out of the 13 homes featured in the 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes tour had driveways sculpted by BDB Paving & General Contracting, Inc. Since 2007, when they started out with just two trucks, BDB Paving has been focused on constant improvement. Today, they have multiple sealcoating and paving crews and have developed a reputation built on product excellence. “We’ve been doing this a long time. People tell us we’re one of the best subcontractors they’ve dealt with,” said Katie Bovee. She and her husband, Brad, put a premium on providing superior customer service and have invested in ensuring their employees are well cared for.

"How did we get here? Experience. What sets us apart? We make sure our employees are happy. We take pride in our work. We’re all like family,” said Katie.

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MORE THAN PAVEMENT PROTECTORS

DRIVEWAY DEFENDERS

Serving Saratoga County and the Capital District, BDB Paving belongs to many regional business organizations and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. This family-owned local company is also a tremendous supporter of community organizations including the Saratoga Builders Association, Toys for Tots, the Gateway House of Peace, and Saratoga Bridges, among others.

Regardless of whether you spread it yourself or not, salt is going to be deposited on your driveway and in your garage. It’s unavoidable. Tire treads collect it from area roadways and deposit it everywhere. Your best defense against its damaging effects is a protective seal coat every one to three years, said Katie.

“Saratoga is a community that supports the local businesses that support them,” said Katie. It’s a reciprocity that Katie witnessed first-hand when her sister-in-law Becky Bovee was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer this year. Collecting more than $23,000 through her Go Fund Me page to help support the family while Becky had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, the bills are continuing to stack up, while Katie continues to update the online funding campaign. “It’s an awful situation,” she said, “and while I want to be there to answer every call, sometimes I can’t because of it, so we may be relying on AI more for that aspect of the experience in the future.”

Freezing temperatures and winter weather wreak havoc on improperly prepared pavement. Asphalt however, holds up better to salt exposure and is more flexible than concrete (which is more prone to shifting and cracking). When it gets cold, solid surfaces expand, causing minor cracking. In the springtime, as temperatures warm, the material contracts. This movement puts stress on the structure. Chipping ice off the driveway can also be detrimental, but asphalt is easier, cheaper, and faster to patch or sealcoat than other materials.

Last year, BDB Paving also ceased providing snow removal services and expanded their salt delivery services instead. Slippery surfaces don’t stand a chance in certain areas where they deliver 5-gallon buckets right to your door. Treated with a liquid magnesium and calcium combination, it’s less corrosive and results in less asphalt deterioration than traditional salt blends do when used on their own, she said.

Saratoga is also notorious for its springs, which bubble up from deep underground. That stored water puts stress on driveways from layers beneath the surface, causing them to heave with the season’s fluctuating temperatures. Because it is so unpredictable, BDB Paving always has their eye on the weather and tries to stop problems in their tracks with sealcoating that protects, rejuvenates, and maintains the look and feel of your paved surfaces.

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SEAL SAVVY SAVIORS In addition to providing high-quality residential and commercial property maintenance, BDB Paving is a business-to-business supplier, setting the industry standard for sealcoating products by selling to other companies.

re you already dreaming of spring projects? BDB Paving is fully insured and always provides free estimates for whatever you’re cooking up. Whether you’re dreaming of decorative and stamped asphalt pathways, paver brick hardscapes, patios, retaining walls or walkways, BDB Paving & General Contracting, Inc. makes magic happen. For more information, follow @bdbpave on Facebook. To schedule your FREE Estimate today, call BDB Paving & General Contracting, Inc. at 518-490-2190, or visit http://www.bdbpaving.com/

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